Things I Am Sure No One Else Cares About

Recently I have come to the conclusion that I say "gotta" too much: We gotta go to the store. We just gotta get some Shamrock shakes. Etc. I don't like this. While I am usually pretty careful about what I say, this is a phrase that does not make me sounds smart. And since it is not a necessary part of speech, I should stop saying it.

Also "hopefully" in the sense of "it is to be hoped. "Hopefully" means "in a hopeful manner - an attitude, rather than a general sense of hoping.

So, if you hear me saying these things, please stop me. I intend to be vigilant, but it's hard. And I don't want to do something such as a quarter jar, since I find those to be more trouble than they are worth. But I am accepting ideas for something that will help me stop!

Playing Chickens

Things are in flux at work -- in a good way. My freelance "career" is looking hopeful. And I admit, I'm getting starry-eyed -- or more accurately, dollar sign-eyed. And honestly, things at the Raybrink house could benefit from an infusion of dollars.

So how do I keep myself from counting chickens before they hatch? Yes, my merit raise is a sure thing and will kick in in a few months. But the freelance income and the other work possibilities are just that -- possibilities. And though I have visions of eliminating debt, bulking up savings, taking a fancy honeymoon and perhaps getting a new car, I have to be responsible. And, financially speaking, I am.

But it sure is fun to dream!

Deserve

Recently, we were fortunate enough to take a Florida vacation. (Thanks, parents!) I was excited about the warmth and fun (turned out to be relative warmth, but it doesn't take much to beat Minnesota in January).

And before I left, people wished me well. And one person said to enjoy it because I deserved it.

But did I? I enjoyed it. I don't vacation often, and I am not an obnoxious vacationer. I am frugal and I think generally a good person. I work hard.

But does that mean I deserve a vacation? Or just that I am fortunate enough to be able to take one? I have a hard time deserving things ... does that mean other people don't deserve them? Or that I have deserved bad things that have happened to me? Or that I don't deserve them all the time?

Or that I worry too much about my middle class problems?